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Cytolethal distending toxin: a potential virulence factor for Helicobacter cinaedi
Nancy S Taylor1, Zhongming Ge, Zeli Shen
1Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. nstaylor@mit.edu
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|December 16, 2003
Summary
Helicobacter cinaedi, a common human pathogen, produces cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt), a potential virulence factor. This finding advances understanding of H. cinaedi infection mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathogen Research
- Bacterial Genetics
Background:
- Helicobacter cinaedi is a frequently identified enterohepatic Helicobacter in human infections.
- Limited knowledge exists regarding H. cinaedi virulence factors and disease mechanisms.
- Cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) is a known virulence factor in other enteric pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the production of cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) in human and animal isolates of Helicobacter cinaedi.
- To identify potential virulence factors in H. cinaedi.
- To compare Cdt production among different H. cinaedi strains.
Main Methods:
- Testing of H. cinaedi isolates for Cdt activity.
- Utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the conserved cdtB gene.
- Analyzing deduced amino acid sequences of the cdtB gene.
Main Results:
- Most H. cinaedi isolates exhibited Cdt activity.
- PCR confirmed the presence of a cdtB gene homologous to known sequences in these isolates.
- Deduced amino acid sequences of cdtB showed high similarity (93%-99%) among H. cinaedi isolates.
- One isolate initially identified as H. cinaedi was reclassified as H. fennelliae.
Conclusions:
- This study reports the first putative virulence factor, Cdt, in Helicobacter cinaedi.
- H. cinaedi shares Cdt production with other enteric pathogens, suggesting a common pathogenic mechanism.
- The findings contribute to understanding H. cinaedi's role in human disease.